Wednesday, October 14, 2015
One of my new favorite efforts in town to make wine more accessible is at R Bar. Beverage director Rory O'Rear just put out a new menu, which offers a full listing of liquor, beer and even some new cocktails. However, it's on the wine menu that I really got excited.
Separated by red, white, rose/amber and sparkling, the modest selection serves up about four varieties in each category. Next to the names, origins and prices, you'll find brief tasting notes. Underneath each category is a chart that further describes the varieties, using dotted, dashed and solid lines to correspond with the wines. The chart visually explains what to expect from each wine, be it earthy, exotic, sweet, funky, fruity, boozy, herby or vegetal.
From there, making a decision based on your own personal flavor preferences is a lot easier.
On the list right now, I'd recommend both the Cascina Degli Ulivi Barbera/Dolcetto 2013 and Foradori Teroldego 2011 (each are $11 per glass), but you know what? You don't have to take my word for it. Just check out the chart and see what piques your interest. R Bar (350 E. Congress St., #110) is open Saturday through Thursday from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. and Friday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Friday, October 9, 2015
You know, Casks and Cooks is more than just a beer-paired dinner event. It's more like a mini food festival. With four different chefs and four different stations featuring three different Tucson breweries, there's more to this event than just sitting down at a table and having dishes placed in front of you in sequence (though there's nothing wrong with that either).
Instead, this unique event allows you to wander between grill-centric stations offering fireside treats and brews to complement at the Loews Ventana Canyon Coyote Corral (7000 N. Resort Drive). From Argentinian-inspired technique to beer cheese soup and brats, the night will offer plenty to sample between sudsy sips.
Here's the full line-up of what you can expect:
Tags: casks and cooks , loews ventanya canyon , food , event , dinner , grill , fireside , craft beer , breweries , tucson , 1055 , dragoon , pueblo vida
Thursday, October 8, 2015
You may have noticed that our beloved blog has been a little slow over the last few days. We are frantically finishing up this year's Best of Tucson® issue and, well, blogging takes second priority for a while.
The good news is: We're almost done! You'll be able to see the winners in the paper on Oct. 22, or (if you're feelin' fancy) you can party with us and find out a day early. We'll be at Casino Del Sol from 6 to 8 p.m.—eating, drinking and happy to be free from our desks.
You have to buy a ticket online, by Oct. 16—$25 gets you in the door, an early copy of issue, some hors d'oeuvres and a drink ticket—but don't worry, there will also be a cash bar. DJ Herm will be there to make sure it's a good time.
Come drink with us (it's been a hectic issue, we're gonna need a few glasses of wine), give us your thoughts on the paper and tell us what categories we need to add next year.
Tags: best of tucson party , party with tw , wine is important
Friday, October 2, 2015
The best part about fall is that scotch season is in full swing, not that high temps kept us too far from the spirit’s peaty goodness. However, in that spirit, Union Public House (4340 N. Campbell Ave.) is serving up a full dinner with scotch in the forefront. On Monday, Oct. 5, the restaurant in St. Philip’s Plaza will be serving up a Scotch and Smoke dinner featuring four different plates each paired with a taste of Scotland to complement.
Dishes for the event include tableside smoked oysters, paprika rubbed barbecue quail and a “s’mores cigar” which is kind of like a smoky cannoli. To drink, guests can expect Balvenie 12 year, Oban 14 year, Laphroaig 10 year and Talisker Distiller’s edition. The dinner kicks off at 6:30 p.m. sharp. It’s $75 for the dinner, tax and tip included, and reservations are required. You can make yours by calling 329-8575 or e-mailing [email protected].
Thursday, October 1, 2015
In beer news, Borderlands Brewing Co. announced the opening of its outdoor beer garden recently, offering fans of the downtown brewery more options when enjoying their locally made craft suds. The beer garden also offers a bocce court.
Borderlands (119 E. Toole Ave.) is serving up 10 taps stocked with their own unique brews, such as the Noche Dulce vanilla porter and Citrana gose, alongside cider and wine options too. You can stop in now to check it all out Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon until 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 5 p.m.
The Tucson craft beer boom is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down, and it seems like every month there’s a new spot opening up and serving unique local and national drafts. Joining the ranks of other recent brewery additions like 1912 Brewing Co. (2045 N. Forbes Blvd., Ste.# 105) and bottle shops like Arizona Beer House (150 S. Kolb Road), Tucson Hop Shop (3230 N. Dodge Blvd.) will celebrate its grand opening on Friday, Oct. 2 beginning at 2 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 3 beginning at noon in the aesthetically pleasing Metal Arts Village.
The first night’s events will include a Wooden Tooth Records DJ set and the Mr. Cookman’s food truck, while the second night will offer some Meatball Madness and cotton candy from Fluff It Up. With 20 rotating taps and a large selection of international craft bottles, there’s plenty to taste at this new beer bar, with a selection of wine and cold brew coffee available as well. While the bar currently offers some homebrew equipment, they plan to offer more supplies and educational events in the near future. For more information on Tucson Hop Shop, its current tap list and its beer garden, visit its website at www.tucsonhopshop.com.
Friday, September 18, 2015
All next weekend, you have the opportunity to go Greek without any of the weird fraternity nonsense that phrase typically entails. Rather, the 39th annual Tucson Greek Festival is returning for four days of Greek food, dance, drinks, music and more.
Although you can check out the full food menu for this year's fest online, you can expect classics like hummus, falafel, baklava, dolmades and more and you might even discover some new favorites. You can definitely look forward to saganaki ($5; pan-fried cheese with Greek brandy and lemon), Athenian baked chicken with lemon and oregano ($9) and roasted lamb shank with rice pilaf ($12), as well as Greek beer, ouzo, wine, coffee and brandy. The event will also feature live Greek music, the award-winning Panathenian Dancers and a Greek market.
The Tucson Greek Festival will take over St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church (1145 E. Ft. Lowell Road) on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 25 from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 26 from 4 to 11 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 27 from noon to 6 p.m. Admission is $3 per day for adults of $6 for a four-day pass. Kids under 12 get in free. For more information and the full food menu, visit the event's website.
Tags: tucson , greek , festival , st. demetrios , food , beer , music , dance , culture
Monday, September 14, 2015
You might have a case of the Mondays right now, but that's nothing compared to that Tuesday drag. So, why not combat the effects of weekday number two and spoil yourself with two of the best things known to man? That's right, Reilly's beer garden (101 E. Pennington St.) is hosting a beer and cheese pairing event on Tuesday, Sept. 15, giving you the opportunity to pretend like you're a Trappist monk and become an expert on both.
While Reilly's got the beer covered with a selection from their 40 rotating taps, they've also enlisted the help of Blu Wine & Cheese's Tana Fryer to bring some unique cheeses to pair up with the brews. The special one-night event will feature five beers and five cheeses.
The beer and cheese tasting begins at 5:30 p.m. so you have enough time to scuttle over after work. The event is $20, which includes the tasting as well as $1 off your choice of beer if you stick around after class. Tickets can be found via Eventbrite.
Tags: reilly , beer , cheese , blu , tana fryer , tucson , food , events , restaurants , tasting , flights
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Saint Charles Tavern opened quietly last weekend on South Fourth Avenue to friends and Facebook followers. With a modest liquor selection, 18 taps and a growing bottled beer selection at reasonable prices, the new little south side bar is likely to become a go-to hang out for folks in the area.
The bar itself is set up pretty much like the kind of bar you could see yourself closing down regularly with a 100 CD jukebox full of classics and local favorites, kitschy decor, pool tables and a back patio area. The relaxed, but hip atmosphere comes courtesy of owners Elizabeth Menke and Churchill Brauninger who helped transform La Cocina into the beloved watering hole it is today. Now the couple aims to bring their aesthetic to a new part of town.
"This is the first time South Tucson has approved a bar in years," Menke says "There's a growing bohemian vibe in this neighborhood and we're hoping others follow in suit."
With a focus on beer, Menke admits Saint Charles Tavern isn't looking to be an upscale craft cocktail bar.
"We're not trying to shove mixology down people's throats," Menke says. "We'll focus on the classics."
And while a bar needs little more than nice folks, cold beer, a pool table and a jukebox to become a destination, Menke and Brauninger have much more in store for the space. After all, its previous iteration housed a bar, pizza place and convenience store before it closed.
The first of the changes will expand the patio, which already offers some seating and bike parking, into a 2000 square foot biergarten, complete with a stage for live music. Menke estimates that it will be ready in about two months. Menke and Brauninger are also on the hunt for an authentic shuffleboard table to add to the two pool tables they already have in the bar.
By next spring, maybe around May, the couple hopes to have the final stage of Saint Charles Tavern's plan completed—the kitchen. You can expect Southern-style comfort food like collard greens and mac and cheese from the menu. However, what's most important to Menke is a focus on simple, handmade freshness to the extent that she plans to have everything from mayonnaise to pickles made in house.
"It's not going to be a page turner—just a few items done right," Menke says.
For now, Saint Charles Tavern is serving up drinks at 1632 S. Fourth Ave. Sunday through Wednesday 10 a.m. until 12 a.m. and Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. until 2 a.m.
More from inside Saint Charles Tavern:
Tags: saint charles tavern , bar , tucson , new , craft beer , pool tables , jukebox , southern food , biergarten , elizabeth menke , churchill brauninger , Image
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
The Salon / Synchro / Sangria certainly has a clever alliterative name down, but the museum fundraiser aims to deliver on all that name promises and more. The "Salon" portion comes in the form of a discussion with MOCA curator Jocko Weyland who will discuss the history of the Mobile Pools, which he helped conceptualize, and his new book Danny's Lot. The book is part photo essay and part narrative, looking at the early days of those dumpster pools and what they mean to adaptive reuse and contemporary art.
As for the "Synchro," UCSB Theater & Dance doctoral candidate Yasmine Jahanmir will be performing at the event, and the "Sangria" comes courtesy of Penca's Bryan Eichhorst. With three different sangrias on the Penca menu regularly featuring tasty ingredients like Amontillado sherry, pennyroyal-infused pisco and a mirepoix shrub, you can be sure the sangria game will be strong at the MOCA.
Hors d'oeuvre from Hotel Congress, Hamilton Distillers' Whiskey del Bac and Barrio Brewing's Barrio Blonde will also be served at the party, with additions from other event sponsors like Salon Salon and Atelier de LaFleur. The swanky shindig will allow attendees to mingle, sangria in hand, in their best "poolside chic."
The Salon / Synchro / Sangria takes place at MOCA, located at 265 S. Church Ave., on Friday, September 11 from 6 until 9 p.m. Tickets for the fundraiser are $100 and you can find yours, along with more information, on the museum's website.
Tags: moca , tucson , contemporary , art , museum , fundraiser , jocko weyland , penca , sangria , danny's lot , yasmine jahanmir
